Liquid filled amusement device with external extensions

ABSTRACT

A novelty device that has an elongated torical encasement of flexible material that defines a central sleeve. A volume of liquid is contained within the encasement. A least one external accessory is provided that is attached to the encasement. When the point of attachment is on the exterior of the device, the external accessory extends away from the device. However, when the point of attachment rotates within the central sleeve section, the external accessory can be hidden from view. Thus, by selectively exposing and hiding the external accessory, the appearance of the device can be selectively altered and the device can appear to transform between two distinct appearances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to novelty devices that have a thinplastic skin that is formed into an elongated torical configuration andis filled with liquid.

[0003] 2. Prior Art Statement

[0004] In the field of novelty devices, there are many devices that areintended to be squeezed in a user's hand. The pressure from the user'shand deforms the novelty device thereby providing a visual novelty. Asthe novelty device is squeezed, it also provides a tactile sensation tothe hand that adds to the overall novelty of the device.

[0005] Many such novelty devices are molded from plastic or elastomericmaterial. Certain novelty devices are filled with liquid. Such noveltydevices provide a squishy sensation when squeezed. One such liquidfilled novelty device is made from an elongated tube of flexible plasticskin. The opposite ends of the tube are folded toward each other and areattached to each other. This forms an elongated torical encasement. Whenthe elongated torical encasement is filled with liquid, the encasementtends to move around the liquid filling as the encasement is squeezed.As such, the novelty device tends to move itself out of a person's handwhen squeezed. Such novelty devices are sold under the name WaterWigglers by Play Visions, Inc. of Woodinville, Wash.

[0006] The present invention is an improvement to liquid filled noveltydevices having elongated torical encasements that increases the playvalue of such devices. This improvement in the art is described andclaimed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention is a novelty device that has an elongatedtorical encasement of flexible material. Due to its torical shape, theencasement has an external cylindrical section and an internal centralsleeve section that are continuous, wherein the internal central sleevesection extends down the center of the external cylindrical section. Avolume of liquid is contained within the encasement. No other structuralelement is present. Accordingly, the encasement is free to fold aboutthe internal volume of liquid. This enables the sections of theencasement that are on the exterior of the device to pass into thecentral sleeve section of the device and vice versa.

[0008] A least one external accessory is provided that is affixed to theencasement. When the point of attachment is on the exterior section ofthe device, the external accessory extends away from the device.However, when the point of attachment rotates within the central sleevesection, the external accessory can be hidden from view. Thus, byselectively exposing and hiding the external accessory, the appearanceof the device can be selectively altered and the device can appear totransform between two distinct appearances.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference ismade to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof,considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0011]FIG. 2A is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with theexternal accessory in the middle of the exterior of the device;

[0012]FIG. 2B is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with theexternal accessory at the bottom of the exterior of the device;

[0013]FIG. 2C is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with theexternal accessory passing partially into the central sleeve of thedevice;

[0014]FIG. 2D is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with theexternal accessory passing fully into the central sleeve of the device;

[0015]FIG. 3A is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention having two sets of external accessories fully exposed; and

[0016]FIG. 3B is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention having the two sets of external accessories hidden within thecentral sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a novelty device10 is shown. The novelty device 10 has an elongated torical encasement12 that is filled with a liquid. Due to the torical shape of theencasement 12, the novelty device 10 has a cylindrical outer shape.However, also due to the torical shape of the encasement 12, the noveltydevice 10 defines a sleeve 14 that extends through the center of thenovelty device 10.

[0018] The encasement 12 is made of a flexible, liquid impermeablematerial. Since the encasement 12 is filled with liquid, the encasement12 retains the liquid and can move relative the liquid. Accordingly, thepart of the encasement 12 that is on the exterior section of the noveltydevice 10 can quickly be rotated into the sleeve 14 of the noveltydevice 12 and vice versa.

[0019] An external accessory 20 is added to the material of theencasement 12 at a fixed point. The external accessory 20 can beadhesively bonded to the encasement 12. As such, the external accessory20 is affixed to the encasement 12 at a set point and moves with theencasement 12. Consequently, when the point of attachment of theexternal accessory 20 rotates into the center sleeve 14 of the noveltydevice 10, the external accessory 20 also rotates into the center sleeve14.

[0020] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the external accessory 20 iscomprised of a ring 22 that is adhesively bonded to the encasement 12. Aplurality of plastic tentacles 24 extend from the ring 22, as do twoeyes 25. Accordingly, the attachment of the external accessory 20 to thenovelty device 10, provides the novelty device 10 with the appearance ofa squid or octopus.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 2A, the novelty device 10 is shown with theexternal accessory 20 at the center of the exterior of the encasement12. The encasement 12 is then moved in the direction of the arrows 26.This causes the external accessory 20 to move downwardly as theencasement 12 at the bottom of the novelty device 10 moves into thecentral sleeve 14.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 2B. it can be seen that by further movement ofthe encasement 12 in the direction of the arrows 26, the externalaccessory 20 will eventually reach the bottom the novelty device 10. Asis illustrated by FIG. 2C, if rotation of the encasement 12 is continuedin the direction of the arrows 26, the external accessory 20 passes upinto the central sleeve 14 of the novelty device 10.

[0023] Lastly, referring to FIG. 2D, it can be seen that by continuingthe movement of the encasement 12 in the direction of the arrows 26, theentire external attachment can be pulled into the central sleeve 14,wherein no part of the external attachment is directly visible on theexterior of the novelty device 10.

[0024] Since the external accessory 20 of the encasement 12 can beselectively hidden within the central sleeve 14 of the novelty device10, the novelty device 10 can be selectively oriented between twoappearances. In a first configuration, the external accessory 20 isvisible on the exterior of the novelty device 10. In a secondconfiguration, the external accessory 20 is hidden in the central sleeve14 of the novelty device 10. This provides the novelty device 10 withtwo distinct appearances, wherein the novelty device 10 can be caused totransform from one appearance to the other.

[0025] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 through FIG. 2D, theexternal accessory 20 had tentacles that made the novelty device appearas a squid. Such an external accessory 20 is merely exemplary and itshould be understood that the external accessory 20 can be configured aswings to make the novelty device look like an insect. In alternateembodiments, the external accessory can be legs, arms, horns, eyes, hairor the like.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 3A, an embodiment of a novelty device 30 isshown where two separate sets of external accessories 32, 34 areattached to the encasement 36. In the shown embodiment, the two externalaccessories 32, 34 mimic the appearance of the front legs and hind legsof a frog, respectively. Furthermore, images of frog eyes 38 are printeddirectly on the encasement 36. As such, when in the configuration ofFIG. 3A, the novelty device 30 has the appearance of a frog.

[0027] However, as shown by FIG. 3B, by moving the encasement 36 in thedirection of arrows 40, the two external accessories 32, 34 can berotated into the central sleeve and out of external site. A differentset of eyes 39 can be printed on the encasement 36, thereby giving thenovelty device 30 the appearance of a tadpole. As such, by selectivelymanipulating the novelty device 30 between the configuration of FIG. 3Aand the configuration of FIG. 3B, the novelty device 30 can be caused totransform from a tadpole to a frog and vice versa.

[0028] From the above, it will be understood that the external accessoryattached to the encasement of the novelty device can have many differentforms and that the encasement itself can be colored, painted orotherwise marked to complement the external accessories being attached.The shown embodiments of the present invention, as will therefore beunderstood, are exemplary and a person with graphic design skills cancreate external attachments for the novelty device that can cause thenovelty device to resemble most any animal, insect or elongated object.All such alternate embodiments and modifications are intended to beincluded in the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A novelty device comprising: an elongated toricalencasement that defines a central sleeve of a predetermined length,wherein said encasement is filled with mostly liquid; and at least oneexternal accessory affixed to said encasement.
 2. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein said external accessory extends from said encasementby a first length, wherein said first length is no greater than saidpredetermined length of said central sleeve.
 3. The device according toclaim 1, wherein said external accessory includes a ring that is affixedto said encasement and extensions that extend outwardly from said ring.4. The device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of externalaccessories are affixed to said encasement at different points.
 5. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein said external accessories areselected from a group consisting of tentacles, arms, legs and wings. 6.A novelty device comprising: an elongated torical encasement having anexternal cylindrical section and an internal central sleeve section thatare continuous, wherein said internal central sleeve section extendsthrough said external cylindrical section; a volume of liquid containedwithin said encasement; at least one external accessory affixed to saidencasement.
 7. The device according to claim 6, wherein each saidexternal accessory is affixed to said encasement at a particular point,wherein said external accessory contains an extension that extends awayfrom said encasement when that particular point is on said externalcylindrical section.
 8. The device according to claim 6, wherein saidexternal accessory extends from said encasement by a first length,wherein said first length is no greater than said central sleeve.
 9. Thedevice according to claim 6, wherein said external accessory includes aring that is affixed to said encasement and extensions that extendoutwardly from said ring.
 10. The device according to claim 6, wherein aplurality of external accessories are affixed to said encasement atdifferent points.
 11. The device according to claim 6, wherein saidexternal accessories are selected from a group consisting of tentacles,arms, legs and wings.
 12. The method of selectively changing theappearance of a novelty toy, comprising the steps of: providing anelongated torical encasement that defines a central sleeve of apredetermined length, wherein said encasement is filled with mostlyliquid; attaching an extension accessory to said encasement; selectivelymoving said encasement between a first position, where said extensionaccessory is contained within said central sleeve and a second positionwhere said extension accessory is not hidden within said central sleeve.13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said external accessoryextends from said encasement by a first length, wherein said firstlength is no greater than said central sleeve.
 14. The method accordingto claim 12, wherein said external accessory includes a ring that isaffixed to said encasement and extensions that extend outwardly fromsaid ring.
 15. The method according to claim 12, wherein a plurality ofexternal accessories are affixed to said encasement at different points.16. The method according to claim 12, wherein said external accessory isselected from a group consisting of tentacles, arms, legs and wings.